ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates DNA polymorphisms detected by random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) in four species of parasitic Hymenoptera and presents an easy-to-use dichotomous key for their identification. The most common genetic methods for species and strain identifications include chromosomal polymorphism, protein electrophoresis and mitochondrial DNA restriction patterns. DNA polymorphisms detected by the PCR technique are being widely used in fingerprinting genomes and in taxonomy. However, first, it is important to test the potential of the RAPD-PCR technique at the species level, especially to determine whether there exist species-specific patterns in geographically widespread populations of each species. In summary, although RAPD-PCR may not provide directly and as easily accessible information on genetic relationships as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) data, it is superior to RFLP in uncovering cryptic genetic variability in organisms for distinguishing difficult taxa.
